The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-02-23
FOUR MoNsTRosITIEs.
a Veteran Pittsburgh Physician's Almost
Incredible Discoveries.

a Veteran Pittsburgh Physician's Almost
Incredible Discoveries.
Four abnormal specimens of deform-
ity in the human race having come I'M
der my observation at different times
thought few "reminiscences of each OF
them might be interesting to the gen.
eral reader and more especially to the
naturalist and biologist. Many of the
citizens of Pittsburgh yet living will
recollect the visit to this city some
forty years ago of the "Siamese Twins, !"
born in Siam, in Asia. They were at
that time nearly twenty years OF age,
and had been united at birth by firm
ligamentous band about four inches
broad and five inches long, passing
from the chest of one to that OF the
other in front, uniting the two INSOFAR
ably together, but permitting free
motion and use of the limbs
and organs of each, which
appeared to act simultaneously and in
simultaneously, as if governed by one
will and one mind. saw them hop
ping into carriage at the corner Of
Penn avenue and Sixth street, each
with whip in his hand, with perfect
ease and facility, to take a drive
through the city. They seemed to pos
sess an average amount of intelligence
and wherever they went were the OBJ
iect of much interest and curiosity.
They did few years since in the
United States.
Shortly after commencing the practice
of medicine in Pittsburgh | was called
to case which in many respects
resembled that of the Siamese twins.
but different in others. In this case
Irvine sisters were born, of ordinary
size and healthy appearance,
weighing together from ten to
| twelve pounds, but they were dead
born. The ligamentous band, as in the
Siamese case, was wanting. AS rep
resented in the drawing, taken at the
time by competent artist, there were
two chests, two heads, with two eyes,
two ears each and two shoulders and
arms, and the lower extremities were
well developed and Of natural form.
But the band of union was to all APP
pearances concealed under the in
teguments covering the upper part OF
the stomach and epigastric region, and
somehow lower than in the case of the
Siamese twins, thus wrapping the two
bodies in one common sack or cavity,
designed to contain the stomach, liver
and other important organs of a single
individual.
This hypothesis, however, would only
be confirmed or disproved by careful
examination with the dissecting knife
which the father Indignantly refused t.
permit. Knowing that the parents Of
the children belonged to the Catholic
Church, l called upon the venerable
and worthy Father Mcclure, who a
the time presided over the church il
, this region, and requested his aid ant
advice. He promptly acceded to m.
request, and Immediately wrote to tn
father and advised him to comply wit
my wishes. When the note was opene'
and read his anger rose to still highe
pitch, and he angrily repeated that NJ
doctor and no dissecting knife shoult
,, touch those children. After some per
suasion permission was given that a
artist might take sketch OF them, tn
father being present.
A third malformation was born Q
colored parents in one of the Souther
States, shortly after the visit of tn
!, Siamese twins, and was connected wit
= the travelling show of one of those be
nevolent wonder vendors who DEEPEN
, on the curiosity of the public to in
= crease their gains. This malformatio
= was twin sisters, united something afte
:, the fashion of the last-described. The
:. lived to mature age, and had the az
: pearance of reasonably good health
and seemed to enjoy the kind of life i
= which they were engaged. They wer
! lusty and heavy, appeared to have br
little power of locomotion and were Sc
. dom off their large chair, which the
= generally occupied.
The manager of this travelling sho'
. did not seem disposed to give much ii
- formation in regard to the twins, and
was unable to learn much of the mar
- ner of union.
!, Not long after my attendance on IL
10 second case described / witnessed
4 ease of monstrosity, born also in Pitt
>. burgh-one still more remarkable ths
those above described. In fact, ha,
never heard or read of one like it.
w was the case of a healthy-looking DO
IN who, instead of the two beaming ey
~ that so beautifully adorn the huns
h face, had only one enormous eye, al
70 that located in the center of his for
n head, without an eyelid to protect
ID The disgusting effect produced on s
70 attending nurse when she first e.
o. eyes on him aptly suggested to h
n mind the horrid badge of deformity
~ would have been doomed to carry wi
him through life. Dropping on i
knees with uplifted hands, she G
We claimed: THANK Heaven, he is dead
T. -Pittsbasrgh Commercial
IN "A young English swell, "